Trustees



(No Model.) .5 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. F. RAYMOND, 2d. 810. H. FOGG.

DEVICE FOR FEEDING NAILS.

Patented Nov. 24', 1896.

WITNESSES;

m: mums vzvzns coy. PHOTCi-LITHO" wnsmnmos, n c.

5Shets-Sheet 2. F. F. RAYMOND, 2d. & C. H. POGG,

(No Model.)

7 DEVICE FOR FEEDING NAILS.

No. 571,931. Patented Nov. 24,1896.

(N0 Mod el. 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

P. F. RAYMOND, 2d. 83 C. H.- FOGG. DEVICE FOR- FEEDING NAILS.

No. 571,931. Patented Nov. 24, 1896.

m: ncRms PzrzRs cownovm mm" wnsmmww. o. c.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

P. P. RAYMOND, 2d. & O. H. FOGG. DEVICE FOR FEEDING NAILS.

No. 571,931. Patented Nov. 24, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OE icE.

FREEBORN F. RAYMOND, 2D, OF NEWTON, AND CHARLES H. FOGG, OF HYDE PARK,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO JAMES W. BROOKS, OF PETER- SHAM, AND JOHNBROOKS, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, TRUSTEES.

DEVICE FOR FEEDING NAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,931, dated.November 24, 1896.

Application filed October 3, 1895. Serial No. 564,491. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREEBORN 1+. RAY- MOND, 2d, of Newton, in thecounty of Middlesex, and CHARLES H. FOGG, of Hyde Park,

in the county of Norfolk, in the State of Massachusetts, citizens of theUnited States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices forFeeding Nails, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention relates to means for holding a large number of nails orother fastenings I 5 in order for delivery and for feeding themautomatically in such order to a distributor by which they are received,transferred, and arranged in any desired order fordelivery to anail-carrier.

The invention is represented in the drawings as applied to a heelcompressing or attaching machine. We have discovered that it isdesirable to use for the purpose of holding and feeding the nails orfastenings a circular disk or plate in which there is made or arranged alarge number of radial or diverging lines of nail receiving and holdingholes, the lines being placed as closely together as is practical, andthe holes in each line also being placed closely together, the lines ofholes preferably beginning at some distance from the center of the plateor disk. The nail-holding holes of the disk or plate extend through itand are preferably of the same size and are covered, excepting at thepoint of delivery, by a cover-plate which is beneath the nail-holdingplate. The nail-holding plate is adapted to be moved verticallyinrelation to the cover-plate in order that any nails or parts of nailswhich may have lodged between the The invention further relates to meansfor rotating the nail-holding plate and for operating the cover-plate touncover one or more. lines of holes therein at the desired time, and tovarious other features of construction and 5-5 operation, all of whichwill hereinafter be more fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of our improvednail holding and feeding device. Fig. 2 is a viewin plan thereof, aportion of the nail-holding and covering plates being broken out to showparts below the same. Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the device,the nail-holder and cover-plate being shown as removed from thedistributer. Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation showing the position ofparts when the nail-holding plate and cover are in operative relationwith the naildistributer, and Fig. 5 is a view in vertical centralsection through the device and the nail-distributer. Fig. 6 is a view inplan representing the nail holding and feeding plate, a portable skimmerthereon, and devices for centering or registering the skimmer upon theplate. Fig. 7 is aview in horizontal section taken through the nailholding and feeding plate and the skimmer when in position thereon, itscovenplate not being removed. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion ofthe skimmer, its cover, and a cover-locking device. Fig. 9 is a view insection representing the skimmer upon the nail holding and feeding plateand the cover of the skimmer removed to permit its nails to be fed tothe holes of the-nail holding and feeding plate. is a view inperspective of the skimmer removed. Fig. 11 is a detail viewof theskimmer, representing one method of securing th cover-plate thereto.

A is the nail holding and feeding plate. It 0 is in the form of a diskand it has the lines a of nail holding and feeding holes arrangedclosely together radially and of any desired number. The holes extendthrough the plate. The plate preferably is of iron. It has a cen- 5 tralopening a within the flange (t the flange resting upon the shoulder a ofthe hub a, which is keyed to the upper end of the shaft B. Rotation isgiven the plate A to advance one or more lines of holes with the nails10b therein in regular order to the holes of the nail-distributer O bymeans of the wormwheelB, fast to the lower end of the shaft B, and theworm B upon the horizontal shaft 1), the worm being in constantengagement with the worm-wheel, and the shaft 1) being turned by meansof the gear-wheel B carrying a driving-pawl b, which engages theratchetwheel B on said shaft Z9. The gear-wheel B is free upon the endof the shaft 1) and is rotated forward and back by the sector-gear Bpivoted at 12 (see Figs. 1 and 3,) which has a reciprocating oscillatingmovement imparted to it by means of the nail-carrier plate D, having anail-carrier d, by which the nails are transferred from the distributerto the nail-drivin g devices, and which plate is moved forward and backat stated intervals by a cam, (not shown,) a lever (Z, the upper part ofwhich is represented in Fig. 5, and a connecting-link d From thenail-carrier plate D there extends backward the arm 61 the rear end ofwhich is connected with the sector by means of a link (1 which may havelost motion provided it by means of the slot (1 and stud cl, whichpasses through it and which connects it with the end of the arm 61 Aspring d connects the link with the stud and tends to draw it toward thestud. The end (Z of the link is connected with a stud d on the sector13- by means of an open bearing al and a springlatch cl secures the endof the link to the stud and also permits it to be readily detachedtherefrom.

The movement of the nail-carrier plate D back and forth impartsareciprocating or oscillating movement to the sector 13 which in turnrotates the pinion B backward and-forward, causing the driving-pawl Z)to turn the shaft 1) as it is moved in one direction by the pinion andto ride backward over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel B as it is revolvedin the opposite direction, the ratchet-wheel being held from followingthis return movement by means of the stop-pawl b (See Fig. 2.) As thepinion B is small, the driving-pawl b is secured to a larger disk Zr,attached to the pinion, (see Fig. 2,) the pawl being pivoted thereto,(see Fig. 1,) and the disk carrying a spring 11 which bears on the backof the pawl. The rotary movement thus imparted to the shaft 19 rotatesthe worm in one direction and causes it to slowly turn the nail holdingand feeding plate A, and at the end of the turning movement it looks itin place as well, and the friction of the worm and worm-wheel on eachother assists in holding the shaft 1) stationary during the backwardmovement of the driving-pawl b.

The shafts B and b and the bracket to which the sector B is pivoted areprovided with vertical movements and also with horizontal movements, thesaid parts being supported or carried by the arm E, in which the shaft Bhas a bearing, and which arm E is supported by a stud or post e at oneside of the center of the device, the stud being fixed to a portion ofthe frame of the'nail-driving mechanism or to any other stationarysupport and the arm extending laterally therefrom and being attachedthereto to swing horizontally thereon and be also movable verticallythereon. The arm is locked with the parts in operative position by meansof the short extension e and the clamping-screw e (see Fig. 2,) whichhas a head e and passes through a hole or recess in the said end e and ahole in a stationary bracket e and has an outer threaded end whichreceives the clamping-nut e the clamping nut clamping the arm 6 againstthe bracket 6 When the nail-holder and other parts are to be moved fromoperative position, this clamping-screw is released and the arm E andthe parts which it carries are moved upward by means of the spirallifting-incline E on a sleeve e on the lower part of said post or studc; It is adapted to be turned by the lever 6 (see Fig. 2,) and incline Eturns against the spiral incline E, and this causes the arm E to beraised the required distance. The incline E ends in a straightbearing-section a which upon the turning of the arm rides upon thestraight top of the sleeve (2 beyond the incline E.

F is the cover-plate. It preferably is a cast-metal plate of asize tocover the holes of the nail-holding plate, excepting those adjacent tothe point of delivery, where it is pieced out or has added to it athinner sheetmetal or steel section or plate f, which is adapted tocontinue the covering of the holes to a line just beyond the holes inthe distributer and to uncover the holes of the nailholder to permit thenails to pass from one or more lines of holes therefrom into the holesof the distributer. slight movement or rotation given it, the platereturning to its holecovering position before the nail-holding plate hasbeen moved sufficiently to advance a filled line of holes. The plate iscut away or opened beyond the edge of the cover enough to permit anynails remaining undelivered in the holes of the nail-holding plate todrop from it after they have been moved from register with the holes ofthe distributer. The cover-plate is moved to uncover the holes at theproper intervals by means of a rock-shaft f, having an arm f at itsupper end, which engages a pin f near the outer edge of the cover-plateat its back, and an arm f at its lower end, which is adapt- Thecover-plate has a ed to be moved at practically the end of the backwardmovement of the nail-carrier plate D by a bracket f attached to thereciprocating arm (1 the bracket preferably carrying a strikingsectionwhich is adjustable thereon and which is represented as made in the formof a screw-stud f freely movable therein, having a head at one end and anut f at the other, by which the length of the projecting end f of thestud may be regulated in relation to the bracket and the time and theextent of the movement of the rook-shaft thus varied.

It will be understood that the nail-holding plate preferably is fed uponthe forward movement of the nail-carryin g plate D and remainsstationary during the backward movement thereof, and as the nail-carrying plate reaches the end of its backward movement the coverplate is movedsufficiently to uncover one or more lines of holes of the nail-holdingplate over the distributer. Upon the forward movement of the nail-holderplate the cover-plate is released and the spring f attached there to andto a fixed point on the arm E, immediately returns it to its coveringposition. The plate F has a hub f which surrounds the part of the arm Efurnishing the bearing for the shaft B. (See Fig. 5.)

The nail-holder plate A has in its flange a holes g, through whichextend pins G, fast to the shoulder or flange a These pins prevent thenail-holdingplate from turning on the hub a and also provide means bywhich the plate A may be lifted from the cover-plate when desired. Thepins further act to register the large skimmers or filling-plates H,(shown in Figs. 6 and 7,) which are made in the form of sectors in whichare a large number of lines of holes corresponding with the lines of thecorresponding section of the nail-holding plate A. This perforatedsector-plate is adapted to be filled by hand or otherwise and totransfer the nails from the place where received to a position over theplate A. It has in its inner edge holes h, which register with two ofthe pins G, and it also has handles it and a cover-plate 7L2, which ismovable outwardly from the under side of the plate H when its holes arein register with the holes of the plate A. (See Fig. 7.) To cause thenails to be started and dislodged from the sides of their holding-holeswhen they have arrived at a point over the distributer, we have attachedto the machine a plate I, (see Fig. 2,) having an upwardly-curved outeredge 2', (see Fig. 4,) which is carried at the end of an arm 2", pivotedat t to a stationary support. v g

It will be understood that the holes of the nail-holding plate A are notdeeper than the nails, the ends of the nails generally extending abovethe top of the plate, and they ride under the plate I, so that generallyit bears upon the tops of the nails, and the vibration of thenail-driving machine causes the plate to have sufficient tremor ormovement to act to loosen and help eject the nails. The plate .also actsas a cover-plate in preventing nails from being jarred from the nailholding and feeding plate at this point.

' The distributer C has the upper perforated plate 0, in which there maybe one or two lines of holes, generally two lines, which lines divergeand register with the two lines of holes of the nail holding and feedingplate. The distributer also has a lower plate 0 which has holes a of anydesired arrangement, and tubes having nail-passages connect the holes ofone plate with the holes of the other. The

two plates are attached to each other by the posts 0 one at each end,and the distributer is held in place by means of a button 0 whichbuttons upon the lower plate, and the stationary abutment 0, againstwhich the side 0 of the upper plate comes in contact.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The holes of the nailholding and feeding plate are filled with nails or fasteners either byhand or by means of the removable skimmer or loader. The distributer Ois put in place and the nail-driving machine actuated, and this causesthe nail holding and feeding plate A to be turned, the lines of nails tobe brought by successive impulses over the distributer and dischargedtherein.

\Ve would not be understood as limiting the invention to its employmentin feeding nails and fastenings, as it is obvious that it can be usedfor feeding any other article or thing which it is desirable to hold andfeed automatically in large numbers and distribute in any desiredarrangement for any other manipulation or action.

The loading skimmer. (shown in Figs. 6, 7, 9, and 10) has ledges orflanges at each end for the retention of the cover formed by fiat piecesN, attached to each end of the plate and having inwardly extendingflanges at slightly below the under surface thereof. These flangesdiverge on account of the shape of the edges of the plate, and thecover-plate h slides into them from the front edge of the plate. endswhich slide upon the flanges n. It is of thin metal and has at its outeredge the handles n by which it is inserted and withdrawn. A button nsecured to the edge of the skimmer, drops in front of the edge of thecover when it is in place and secures it there. The

skimmer also has handles it, by which it is transferred. They arepreferably swinging or bailhandles and are placed closely to each end ofthe skimmer, so that when in a horizontal position they will extendbeyond each end and leave the entire upper part of the skimmerunobstructed. Theyare preferably formed as represented in Figs. 6 and 7that is, one arm, of, of the handle is attached bya screw pivoted to thefront edge of the skimmer, and the other arm, n, has at its end ahorizontal extension 7L7, which enters a housing or box 11 secured tothe top of the skimmer within the perforated section. The skimmer alsohas the centering-holes before referred to, which cooperate with thecentering-pins G, as already explained.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a machine of the characterspecified, a nail-holding plate A having a large number of lines a ofnail-holdingholes arranged therein and guides upon which said plate isvertically movable without being detached from the machine.

2. The nail-holder plate A, having an in- It is secured to the skimmerby the ner flange a to rest upon the shoulder a of the rotary centralplate a.

3. The rotary plate a, having a shoulder (t a nail-holding plate Ahaving a flange a and means for fastening the flange and shouldertogether.

at. The rotary plate a and the nail-holder plate A,verticall y movablein relation thereto.

5. The rotary plate a having pins G, and the nail-holding plate A havingholes in its inner edge through which said pins extend.

6. A nail-holding plate having a large number of nail-holding holesarranged in rows therein and a portable nail-holder having a similararrangement of nail-holding holes, and means for centering the portableholder above the nail-holding plate with its lines of nail-holding holesin line with the nail-hold ing holes of the nail-holding plate.

7. The combination of a nail-holding plate A having intermittent periodsof rotation and rest, and provided with a flat upper surface andskimmer-registering devices movable therewith with a portable skimmer torest upon said plate and be registered by said registering devices, theholes of which are of the same order and arrangement as the holes of thesection of the nail-holding plate over which it is placed, and aremovable cover therefor adapted to be withdrawn after the plate hasbeen registered.

8. The combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, theregistering-pins G, with the nail-feeding skimmer having holes upon itsinner edge to register with the pins G, the nail-holding skimmer beingin the form of a sector-plate and having a cover-plate movable outwardlytherefrom.

9. A nail-holder skimmer in the form of a perforated sectorplate havingsections of registering devices, handles and a removable cover-plate.

10. In a machine of the character specified, a nail-holding plate in theform of a segmentplate provided with a large number of radiating holesarranged therein, having a bottom or under plate removable outwardlytherefrom, whereby the plate is adapted to hold in a relatively smallcompass a large number of nails, an d whereby it is also adapted to feednails to a section of a circular nail holding and feeding plate havingnail holding and receiving holes of similar arrangement, as and for thepurposes set forth.

11. A movable nail holding and feeding plate and an upwardlymovableplate I arranged over the nail holding and feed in g plate to operate asspecified.

12. A movable nail holding and feeding plate and the plate I having thecurved edge 'i arranged over the nail holding andfeeding plate tooperate as specified.

13. A movable nail holding and feeding plate with a plate I pivoted toan independent support and arranged to bear upon the tops of the nailscarried by said plate.

14. A movable nail holding and feeding plate provided withnail-receiving holes from which the upper ends of the nails project, incombination with a nail-discharging plate I arranged over the nailholding and feeding plate at the point where the said plate dischargesits nails and which is adapted to assist in said discharge, as and forthe purposes specified.

15. In a machine of the character specified, a nail holding and feedingplate having holes for the reception of nails with a cover-platearranged over said nail holding and feeding plate and adapted to preventupward movement of the nails from the said nail holding and feedingplate as said plate is being fed or as the machine is being operated.

16. The movable nail holder and feeder having the plate 1 arranged overa portion thereof as specified and attached to the machine to be movableby a swinging movement out of operative relation therewith.

17. A movable nail holding and feeding plate and an under cover-platebeneath the same, one being movable vertically in relation to the other.

18. A rotary nail holding and feeding plate having intermittent forwardrotation imparted to it and a cover-plate beneath the nail holding andfeeding plate having a narrow aperture extending inward from its edgeand provided with a slight interrupted oscillating movement.

19. In a machine of the character specified,

a circular nail holding and feeding plate in combination with aworm-wheel attached thereto and an intermittently-operated worm arrangedto engage the worm-wheel and which acts to move the nail holding andfeeding plate and also to lock the said nail holding and feeding plateat the end of its feeding movement and to hold it locked in saidposition.

20. The rotary nail holding and feed-ing plate, a nail-transferringplate or carrier and actuating devices for rotating the said nailholding and feeding plate, which devices are connected with the nailtransferring or carrier plate, and operated thereby.

21. The combination of a nail-transferring plate or carrier, anoscillating sector-gear connected with said plate, or its actuatingdevice, to be oscillated thereby, a worm-wheel connected with a nailholding and feeding plate, a worm to engage said worm-wheel, andintermittently-operated devices between the worm-wheel and sector-gearcomprising a pinion to mesh with the sector-gear, a feedpawl carriedthereby and a ratchet-wheel with which said feed-pawl engages connectedwith the said worm-wheel, as and for the purposes described.

22. The combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, theworm-wheel B connected therewith, the worm B its shaft b, theratchet-wheel 13 secured thereto and the oscillating feed-pawl b toengage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel.

23. The combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, theWorm-wheel B connected therewith; the worm B which engages theworm-wheel B, the shaft b, the ratchetwheel 19 carried thereby, thestop-pawl b and the driving-pawl I) attached to a pinion B free upon thesaid shaft 12, and means for rotating the pinion forward and back, asand for the purposes described.

24. The combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, its actuatingworm-wheel, the worm B and its actuating devices detachably connectedwith the movable nail carrier or transferrer.

25. The combination of the worm-operating sector 13, the reciprocatingarm (Z and the intermediate link-latch d 26. The combination of theworm-operating sector E the reciprocating arm (1 having a stud d, thelink connecting the stud with the sector having the slot (1 and thespring d 27. The combination of the worm-operating sector 13 with theconnecting-link cl, having the sector-stud bearing (Z and springlatch (Z28. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feedingplate of the character specified, having a large number of nail-holdingholes and an under cover-plate therefor, both of which plates arevertically movable together, as and for the purposes specified. 1 I

29. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feedingplate having a large number of nail-holding holes and an undercover-plate therefor, both of which plates are adapted to be movedlaterally together, as and for the purposes described.

30. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feedingplate having a large number of nail-holding holes, an under cover-platetherefor, the said nail holding and feeding plate and said cover-plateboth being vertically and laterally movable together, as and for thepurposes described.

31. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feedingplate having a large number of nail-holding holes, an under cover-platetherefor, the said nail-holdin g plate and cover-plate being adapted tobe moved first vertically and then laterally, as and for the purposesdescribed.

In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feedingplate having a large number of nail-holding holes, an under cover-platetherefor, the said plates being adapted to be separated verticallyandalso to be moved vertically in their separated relation, as and forthe purposes described.

33. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, a nail holding and feedingplate having a large number of nail-receiving holes, an under nailcover-plate, the two plates being separable vertically in relation toeach other, and both of said nail-plates being laterally movable intheir separated relation, as and for the purposes described.

34. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism of the character specified,the combination of a vertically-movable nail holding and feeding plateadapted to hold a large number of nails and feed them in successiveorder to a nail-distributer, with said distributer, as and for thepurposes described.

35. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of thedistributer O, with nail holding and feeding plate and a plate-coverboth vertically movable with relation to the nail-distributer.

36. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of thedistributer, with nail holding and feeding plate and its cover- I plate,both movable vertically and laterally in relation to the distributer.

37. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of thedistributer, the nail holding and feeding plate, the movable cover-plateand the stay or registering plate 0 against which the upper part of thedistributer is held in contact.

38. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, an arm supporting the sameand means for moving the arm vertically.

V 39. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of thenail holding and feeding plate, its cover-plate and an arm forsupporting the same pivoted to a stationary stud or post at one side ofthe center of said nail-holding plate.

40. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of anail-holding plate, its cover-plate and supporting mechanism, and meansfor moving it vertically, comprising the two inclines E, E bearingopposed relation to each other, and one of which is movable in relationto the other.

41. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate,its cover and means forsupporting them both,and devices for lifting them and holding them in their lifted position,comprising the inclines E, E ending in flat surfaces and one of which ismovable in relation to the other, their flat surfaces coming together atthe end of the lifting movement and acting to support the parts in theirlifted position. 7

42. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the postor support 6, an arm pivoted thereto carrying at its outer end a nailholding and feeding plate and cover-plate, the said arm having ahorizontal swinging movement upon said pivot and means carried by saidpivot for moving said arm vertically thereon and for holding it in itsvertical position during the swingingmovement of said arm. I

43. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of thelifting and swing-' ing arm E, the nail holding and feeding plate andcover-plate carried thereby, their operating mechanism also carried bysaid arm to be movable vertically and horizontally therewith, adetachable connection between said operative devices and the movablepart of the machine upon which the feeding apparatus is used, as and.for the purposes described.

H. The combination of the nail holding and feeding plate, itscover-plate, the movable arm E for supporting the same and means forlocking said arm with the nail holding and feeding plate and cover-platein operative position.

45. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of thenailholding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, and a supporting-arm,pivoted as described, having a short end 6 and a stationary bracket orarm against which. said short end is brought in contact, as and for thepurposes described.

46. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, the cover-plate and a supporting-arm E,pivoted as described, and having a short end 6' and a stationarybracket, and means for fastening the arm to the said bracket.

47. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate and its cover-plate, both laterally movable,and means for locking them in their operative position.

48. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, a rock-shaft connectedtherewith to move it in one direction, and a movable part of the machineto which the nail-feeding apparatus is attached which communicatesmovement to said rockshaft.

49. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, the cover-plate and a rockshaft connectedtherewith, the rock-shaft having an arm with which a tappet is adaptedto be brought into contact.

50. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, a rock-shaft connectedtherewith, its tappet-arm and an adjustable tappet.

51. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, its cover-plate and an arm operated by atappet for actuating the same and an adjustable tappet.

52. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, the cover-plateoperatingdevices, and a reciprocating tappet for actuating the same.

53. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the'nailholding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, and operating mechanism andmeans for actuating the coverplate-operating mechanism, comprising areciprocating tappet, the said tappet consisting of a threaded studcarried by a reciprocating part, and a nut for adjusting the relation ofthe end of the stud to said reciprocating part.

54. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, a lever or rockshaft formoving it in one direction, and a spring for moving it in the reversedirection.

55. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of thenail'holding and feeding plate, its cover-plate, the nail-carrier andconnecting devices for operating the cover-plate at the end of thebackward in ovement of the nail-carrier.

56. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, the nail-carrier, a tappetcarried thereby, a tappet-arm connected with the cover-plate, and aspring for returning the cover-plate and reversing the position of thetappet-arm, as and for the purposes described.

57. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of the nailholding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, the nail-carrier plate, andmeans connecting it with the nail holding and feeding plate to rotate itduring the forward movement of the carrierplate, and other meansconnecting the carrier-plate with the cover-plate to operate it .at theend of the backward movement of the carrier, substantially as described.

58. In a nail holding and feeding mechanism, the combination of a nailholding and feeding plate, the cover-plate, the distributor havinguncovered passages therein, the nailcarrier and devices for moving thenail holding and feeding plate upon the forward movement of thenail-carrier and for actuating the cover-plate to uncover the holes insaid nail holding and feeding plate upon the backward movement of thenail-carrier.

59. In a machine of the character specified, a portable skimmer orloader having a nailholding section in the form of a segmentplate inwhich the nail holding and receiving holes are arranged in a largenumber of radiating lines, which holes correspond to a similararrangement of holes in the nail holding and feeding plate, as and forthe purposes specified.

60. In a machine of the character specified, the portable skimmer orloader having flanges at each end and a cover-plate sustained by saidflanges.

61. In a machine of the character specified, a portable loader orskimmer in the shape of a segment-plate having alarge number ofradiating lines of holes therein and provided with an under cover-platedetachably secured to the said skimmer by its edges only, and adapted tobe moved outwardly from the front edge thereof to uncover its holes.

62. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of aportable loader or skimmer having a large number of nail-holding holestherein, a removable under cover-plate attached by its edges only to thesaid skimmer and adapted to be moved outwardly from its front edge inuncovering the holes therein and handles attached to the front edge ofsaid cover-plate shaped to hook upon the outer surface of the skimmerwhen the cover-plate is in its closed position, whereby they serve alsoto sustain the front edge of the coverplate when the skimmer is loadedwith nails.

63. In a machine of the character specified, the portable skimmer orloader, a cover-plate attached to the under surface of the skimmer orloader and a lock for fastening it to the skimmer or loader,substantially as described.

64. In a machine of the character specified, a portable skimmer orloader having sections of a registering device in combination with othersections of a registering device mounted upon or carried by the nailholding and feeding devices.

65. In a machine of the character specified, the portable skimmer orloader having an inner flange provided with registering holes.

66. In a machine of the character specified, in combination with thenail holding and feeding plate, the portable skimmer or loader, having acover removable from its front edge, means for centering the skimmer orloader with its attached cover upon the nail holding and feeding platein a manner to permit the withdrawal of the cover from the front edgethereof, as and for the purposes described.

67. In a nail holding and loading machine of the character specified, anail holding and loading plate circular in form, having radial lines ofholes extending entirely around it and divided by skimmer or loaderregistering or centering devices into sections, each of which isprovided with centering or registering devices for receiving andlocating a portable nail-holder or skimmer, substantially as described.

68. In a nail feeding and loading apparatus of the character specified,a rotary nail holding and feeding plate divided into sections of equallength by centering or registering devices of the same character andarrangement,

each of which is adapted to receive any one of a number of portableskimmers or loaders and center it or register it, whereby the same or auniform portable skimmer or loader may be employed with each section ofthe nail holding and feeding plate, as and for the purposes described.

69. In a nail holding and feeding device of the character specified, aslowly-moving nail holding and feeding plate having centering orregistering devices thereon which move with it, and a portable loader orskimmer adapted to be centered or registered by said centering orregistering devices upon said nail holding and feeding plate and whileit is in motion, whereby the nail holder and feeding plate may be loadedwith nails without interfering with or stopping the operation of themachine, substantially as described.

70. The combination in a machine of the character specified of a nailholding and feeding plate having a large number of nail-receiving holesadapted to be moved to deliver said nails in successive order, with aportable skimmer or loader having a large number of nail-receiving holesof the arrangement of the holes of the nail holding and feeding plate,adapted to be mountedupon said lastnamed plate, and an independent undercoverplate for said portable skimmer or loader, the said portableskimmer or loader being adapted to be moved with the nail holding andfeeding plate.

FREEBORN F; RAYMOND, 2D. CHAS. H. FOGG.

In presence of- J. M. DOLAN, ERNEST L. FORD.

